Motor Vehicle Accidents Are Leading Cause of Death Among Teens

AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 17, 2011 – Inexperience, speeding, drinking, not wearing a seat belt and distracted driving are some of the main factors that result in motor vehicle accidents with teen drivers. During National Teen Driver Safety Week this week, Summa Health System reminds new drivers and their parents to talk about and engage in safe driving habits.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), sponsor of National Teen Driver Safety Week, recommends the following safety tips:

Do not drink any alcohol.

Always wear a seat belt.

Do not text or talk on a cell phone while driving.

Establish a curfew.

Limit the number of passengers in the car.

“Statistics show that teen drivers are more vulnerable to death and injury on the roadways, so it is always important that parents and teens know the elements of safe driving,” said Rebecca Wise, Summit County Safe Communities grant coordinator. “Especially as we head into the winter months, teens need to be extra careful at all times.”

There have been 27 traffic-related fatalities in Summit County this year. From January through September 2010, there were 22 traffic-related fatalities.

About Summa Health System Summa Health System is one of the largest integrated healthcare delivery systems in Ohio. Encompassing a network of hospitals, community health centers, a health plan, a physician-hospital organization, a multi-specialty physician organization, research and multiple foundations, Summa is nationally renowned for excellence in patient care and for exceptional approaches to healthcare delivery. Summa's clinical services are consistently recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (Magnet status), U.S. News and World Report, Thomson Reuters and The Leapfrog Group. Summa also is a founding partner of the Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron. For more information, visit www.summahealth.org or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/summahealth and Twitter at www.twitter.com/summahealth.